Charting the Uncharted: The (Un)Intended Consequences of Oil Sanctions and Dark Shipping

Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde, Yiliang Li, Le Xu and Francesco Zanetti

No 33486, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We examine the rise of dark shipping – oil tankers disabling AIS transceivers to evade detection – amid Western sanctions on Iran, Syria, North Korea, Venezuela, and Russia. Using a machine learning-based ship clustering model, we track dark-shipped crude oil trade flows worldwide and detect unauthorized ship-to-ship transfers. From 2017 to 2023, dark ships transported an estimated 7.8 million metric tons of crude oil monthly – 43% of global seaborne crude exports – with China absorbing 15%. These sanctioned flows offset recorded declines in global oil exports but create distinct economic shifts. The U.S., a net oil exporter, faces lower oil prices but benefits from cheaper Chinese imports, driving deflationary growth. The EU, a net importer, contends with rising energy costs yet gains from Chinese demand, fueling inflationary expansion. China, leveraging discounted oil, boosts industrial output, propagating global economic shocks. Our findings expose dark shipping’s central role in reshaping oil markets and macroeconomic dynamics.

JEL-codes: C32 C38 E32 Q43 R40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-02
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Working Paper: Charting the Uncharted: The (Un)Intended Consequences of Oil Sanctions and Dark Shipping (2025)
Working Paper: Charting the Uncharted: The (Un)Intended Consequences of Oil Sanctions and Dark Shipping (2025)
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